Coetzer stars before rain arrives

Only nine and a half overs were bowled as Northamptonshire's opening Friends Life t20 Midlands/Wales/West Group match against the Welsh Dragons was cut short by rain.

The Steelbacks had moved on to 70 for three with Scotland international Kyle Coetzer blasting 41 off 29 balls, the wickets coming from James Harris, Dean Cosker and Dragons captain Jim Allenby.

The weather then forced the players off and, after a long delay, umpires Nigel Llong and Jeffrey Evans decided to abandon proceedings.

The hosts will be hoping for better luck with the conditions when they travel to Somerset on Sunday while the Dragons host the Warwickshire Bears on the same day.

Scotland international Kyle Coetzer blasted 41 from 29 balls, but Northamptonshire's opening FLt20 clash was ruined by the weather

The Welsh Dragons won the toss and chose to bowl first and they claimed a very early breakthrough when Harris took out the off stump of Rob Newton with the last ball of the first over.

Coetzer then bludgeoned eight fours during his bright knock before he missed his attempted drive off Cosker and his leg stump was sent tumbling.

It meant Cosker had the last laugh after Coetzer had smashed three fours in his first over, the sixth, as the Steelbacks recovered from their false start.

The dismissal broke a second-wicket stand of 60 with Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien - the highest partnership for that wicket for Northants against Glamorgan in T20 cricket.

O'Brien soon followed him for 12 when he was caught by his opposite number Mark Wallace off Allenby at the start of the 10th over after the Dragons skipper had brought himself on.

The umpires then took the players off two balls later - it had been drizzling for most of the innings but only then did the rain get heavier.

New signing and Australia international Cameron White had just made a single on his debut at the time play was suspended with Alex Wakely unbeaten on five at the other end.

The rain was persistent and it became clear the players would not be coming back on, but the umpires gave it every chance of getting back under way before eventually deciding to call it a day at 8:50pm.